Stunning: Royal Navy Lynx MK 8 Releases Flares Over Type 23 Frigate in Indian Ocean

: Posted On Friday, 14 August 2015 14:52

Naval Forces News - UK

Stunning: Royal Navy Lynx MK 8 Releases Flares Over Type 23 Frigate in Indian Ocean

The Royal Navy released some stunning images showing the Lynx MK 8 helicopter from 815 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, litting up the night sky with her decoy flares as part of an exercise in the Indian Ocean.

Picture: Royal Navy

The helicopter is on a nine-month deployment to the Gulf with HMS Richmond – a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate which is silhouetted in the background.

Decoy flares – or Infra Red Counter Measures – attract heat-seeking missiles, drawing them away from the helicopter’s engines and onto a much hotter target.

HMS Richmond’s primary tasking in the Indian Ocean has been as part of Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 150.

Their mission is to promote maritime security in order to counter terrorist activity and other illegal activities.

Sub-Lieutenant Emily Witcher, one of the ship’s officers of the watch, said: “We can carry out counter narcotics smuggling one day, and immediately switch to anti-submarine warfare training the next.

"This demonstrates the flexibility that a Type 23 frigate provides.”

Pictures: Royal Navy